Comic Book Reviews for December 21, 2016

The Justice League are fed up with Amanda Waller.

By Jesse Schedeen, Jeff Lake

Updated: 23 Dec 2016 2:56 am

Posted: 22 Dec 2016 4:38 pm

The comic book industry isn't exactly taking a break for the holidays. Among other new releases this week, DC kicked off the Justice League vs. Suicide Squad crossover while Marvel debuted new series for Star-Lord and Gamora.

Scroll down to check out our reviews for these and various other new releases, and be sure to let us know your favorite books of the week in the comments below.

DC COMICS

Batman #13

Written by Tom King | Drawn by Mikel Janin

"'I Am Suicide' has showcased this young series at its best and worst. Batman #13 wraps up the story arc somewhere in the middle, with a conclusion that wraps up this conflict on a fitting, if slightly predictable note." -Jesse

7.8

Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #3

The best compliment I can give this series is that it's the closest thing DC has to a Venture Bros. comic. Not necessarily in terms of humor, but in the sense that it follows a dysfunctional family of ex-adventurers struggling against the specter of failure. This issue continues the engrossing look at Cave Carson's return to prominence and his reunion with his estranged daughter. The book has family drama to spare, but that's counterbalanced by plenty of kooky action scenes and psychedelic visuals. This is easily some of Michael Avon Oeming's strongest work. His off-kilter style is well-suited to Cave's corner of the DCU, and the bright, surreal colors of Nick Filardi make his work stand out all the more. This issue is marked by several splash pages that pop with energy and old-school whimsy. And as usual, the subversive backup features from Tom Sciloi are a welcome bonus. I'd very much like to see Scioli tackle an ongoing Green Arrow comic now. -Jesse

Final Score:

9.3

Harley Quinn #10

Written by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti | Drawn by Various

Just as holiday music tends to wear out its welcome after a few weeks, there's a real sense of diminishing returns when it comes to holiday-themed comics. This is at least the third Harley-centric holiday story DC has published this month, and at the point the apathy is inevitable. That's not to say this issue would do much to stand out regardless. Writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti weave a goofy little story of Harley trying to rescue Santa Claus from Joker-esque Grinch figure. The script is fine, but not one of the more amusing or emotionally complex efforts from this team. This mishmash of artists doesn't really help, either. It's always nice seeing Dawn artist Joseph Michael Linsner render Harley, but in general this issue lacks consistency and does little to truly take advantage of Harley's North Pole escapades. -Jesse

Final Score:

6.2

Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1

Written by Joshua Williamson | Drawn by Jason Fabok

"Now that the initial novelty of DC Rebirth has worn off, the time has come for DC to publish something that can both keep the momentum going and start furthering some of the many loose ends left over from DC Universe Rebirth #1. Justice League vs. Suicide Squad serves both of those purposes at once. It's the first major crossover event of the DC Rebirth era, and the next big step along the road to whatever the climax of this relaunch will be. And judging from this first issue, it'll satisfy fans regardless of what type of story they're looking for." -Jesse

8.5

Nightwing #11

Written by Tim Seeley | Drawn by Marcus To

Of COURSE there’s a support group for villains formerly thumped by Nightwing. It’s as Nightwing a plot point as we could hope to get, and serves as another example as to how great Tim Seeley is for the character. Not only does the writer find a whole new angle from which to view the usual bumbling baddies, he also manages to connect their plight with Dick’s own struggle of self. Said collision gives this issue and arc its driving force, though Seeley throws in a few other wrenches for good measure. It’s all strong, character driven stuff, proving that is doesn’t take high stakes, cataclysmic drama to provide great entertainment. Marcus To too continues his strong run, again capturing the many facets of Dick’s personality with ease. The artist brings a strong sense of personality to his pencils, his fluid lines and easy layouts every bit as exuberant as his acrobatic lead. -Jeff

Final Score:

8.0

Superman #13

Written by Peter Tomasi & Patrick Gleason | Drawn by Doug Mahnke

This issue wraps up a brief team-up between Superman and the Frankenstein family. As with issue #12, Superman #13 isn't a particularly deep comic. It mostly just strives to be a raucous adventure about a superhero and a pair of monsters teaming up to stop a genocidal alien. And it succeeds on that front. Moreover, the rift between Frankenstein and his ex-wife does lend an bit of emotional weight to this adventure. Doug Mahnke thrives in this environment. His clean, bold style has always been well-suited to the Man of Steel, and he's equally at home in the realm of undead monsters. The rotating crew of inkers does result in some visual inconsistency, however. -Jesse